Back to Singapore.

And often, if traveling in the East.

Because Singapore is like Hong Kong, a hub of life, business, and activities that mobilizes a diverse humanity. After wandering among the “Asian Tigers,” Singapore serves as a stop to refresh and then depart again. And this has been the case for some time. As early as the second half of the last century, the island was a busy crossroads, thanks to the foresight of Sir Stamford Raffles, who in 1819 laid the foundations for the modern city-state.

When the Raffles was built in 1887, named after the island’s most illustrious citizen, Singapore was already an active commercial center bustling with merchants (Chinese, Malays, Indians, Arabs, and Europeans), magnates, adventurers, and politicians.

Not by chance, the hotel, initially with just ten rooms, was founded by three Armenian brothers, the Sarkies, who were already the owners of the Eastern & Oriental Hotel on the Malaysian island of Penang. A few years later, in 1899, the neoclassical main building was inaugurated, designed by architect R. A. J. Bidwell. It was the first building in Singapore to have an electrical circuit to power lamps and fans and to boast a genuine French chef.

Soon, the legend of Raffles spread, and the hotel became a symbol of Singapore and the exotic, distant East. The writer and navigator Joseph Conrad was among the first guests, followed by Rudyard Kipling, who wrote the famous phrase “Feed at Raffles.” The building already included a large billiard hall, which was incorporated into a new wing in 1917. Even today, the two original billiard tables are over a hundred years old. Tradition holds that under one of these, the last tiger of Singapore was killed in 1902.

In the 1920s and 1930s, the hotel became a mecca for celebrities from around the world, from Charlie Chaplin to Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and Maurice Chevalier, not to mention kings, sultans, and politicians. But beyond hosting prominent guests, Raffles was also the center of Singapore’s social, cultural, and worldly life. It was here that business dinners, tea dances, galas, and ceremonies were held, while the rhythms of the Charleston and early jazz improvisations filled the air.

However, the euphoria was short-lived, and in 1942, there was the Japanese invasion.

The hotel was the last building to be occupied, and in 1945 it was used as a temporary shelter for newly freed prisoners of war. Through ups and downs, and visits by more or less famous individuals, such as Ava Gardner, the Raffles reached 1987 when it was declared a national monument. In the following years, a radical restoration, completed in 1991 and costing 160 million Singapore dollars (over 170 billion lire), restored this piece of international hospitality history to the splendor and amenities that made it famous. So much so that today it is universally recognized as one of the best hotels in the world, where heads of state such as American George Bush and Indonesian Suharto stay.

The hotel offers only suites.

Each suite is personalized with the names of the famous personalities who have stayed there. Many of the furnishings are still the original pieces, while others have been introduced, always selected from period pieces that are valuable and in keeping with the style of the building. The light switches and fan controls have even been redone in brass with a lacquered wooden base, modeled after those from the 1920s. It goes without saying that despite all the attention to original forms and decor, modern comforts are available; the floors are made of fine marble and teak, and here and there you can find modern trompe-l’oeil by Carlo Marchiori, an Italian artist living in California.

In the grand lobby, there are early-century Persian rugs signed by the great Saber. The Raffles complex also features various courtyards and gardens where receptions and ceremonies are held. There is a museum dedicated to the history of the hotel, the Jubilee Hall, a 392-seat theater that is rented out for events of all kinds, and the Raffles Hotel Arcade, which houses over seventy shops featuring the most prestigious brands.

A stay at the Raffles is also an opportunity for the most refined palates.

The restaurants are diverse, including the famous and elegant Tiffin Room, the first in the hotel; the Empress Room, the only one serving Cantonese cuisine; the Raffles Grill, known for its excellent French cuisine and refined, elegant atmosphere; and the brand-new Doc Cheng’s, now celebrated for its original blend of Eastern and Western culinary traditions that makes its nouvelle cuisine an exciting experience. Among the most original dishes is the Lemongrass Chicken with lime and ginger sauce. Tender chicken breast is massaged with oil and lemongrass, then cooked in a tandoor, drizzled with a lime and ginger sauce, and served on a bed of noodles, garnished with steamed vegetables and a creamy coconut sauce.

Among the bars, the Long Bar deserves mention, which has been thriving since 1915, where you can enjoy the Singapore Sling and the Million Dollar Cocktail, now famous worldwide. Those with time can attend the renowned cooking academy: a week to learn the secrets of great chefs. Periodically, there are visiting chefs who enliven the hotel’s culinary evenings. The last visit, last February, was from Heinz Winkler of Munich.

Refined and infused with cultured references, this piece of Singaporean history has passed through time with a cheerful and jovial step, almost indifferent to the international accolades it periodically receives. Thus, between past and future, Raffles solidifies its myth, and the tradition continues…

See you at Raffles, then.